Do You Cut Back Ferns in the Fall? A Complete Guide to Pruning Ferns in Autumn

Although ferns dont bloom, their unique forms and textures provide exceptional visual interest in the garden. When put together with evergreen groundcovers that bloom, they make a beautiful, varied garden bed that shouldn’t need much work during the growing season.

Ferns are some of the oldest plants in the world. They come in a wide range of sizes, from small groundcovers like Alpine Water Fern (Blechnum penna-marina) to tall tropical trees. Even though these are beautiful and can be found at many nurseries, it will be easier for you to garden if you find ferns that grow naturally where you live. Native ferns from North America, such as Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) and Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant), are great evergreen choices that offer a range of heights, textures, and beautiful year-round interest.

Many gardeners claim to dislike ferns because they “look messy” or are “hard to prune. “The truth is that many evergreen ferns only have fronds (that’s what ferns call their leaves) that last about a year.” Then those older fronds die back and turn brown, but they remain woven among the newer growth. That’s what makes the mess, which is hard to clean up because there are so many living fronds in the way.

The trick: Prune them at just the right time, and it takes no time at all!

Cut all of your fern’s fronds off at the ground in late winter or early spring to avoid a jumbled mess. Each plant should look like a small, curled fist on the ground after all the fronds have been cut off. As the spring days get longer, each of those fists will spread out its thin fronds, creating a brand-new plant for the rest of the year.

If you cut at the end of winter, right before spring’s growth spurt, you won’t have to worry about breaking off tender new growth as you cut. You will also have enjoyed the fronds from the previous year from spring until winter, without ever having to look at brown, dried-out fronds. Cutting down plants will only be ugly for a few weeks before they grow beautiful new leaves for the next year.

The same trick works: cut off last year’s growth at the end of winter, right before new growth comes up and old growth turns brown.

While youre out cutting back those evergreen ferns, go ahead and cut back your evergreen groundcovers nearby. Bonus: If you cut back groundcovers like Epimediums and Vinca minor in late winter, their tiny, sweet spring flowers will show up. Normally, they’d be hidden under layers of older leaves.

The flowers on Vinca grow on the stems that are closest to the ground, so in some gardens, the plants can be mowed. The flowers on Epimediums grow straight out of the ground, so you don’t have to worry about killing the flowers if you cut them back right before they bloom.

Watch carefully and be certain to do your trimming before the flower heads begin to expand. After you enjoy their beautiful carpet of flowers, these plants will give you a new garden painting of weed-killing groundcover to enjoy all year.

Ferns are graceful, lush plants that thrive in shady gardens. Their arching fronds unfurl elegance wherever they grow. But when the cooler days of autumn arrive, should you cut back hardy ferns? Proper fall care is key to keeping ferns healthy year after year. In this article, we’ll look at whether, when and how to prune ferns in the fall season.

An Overview of Perennial Fern Varieties

There are many types of ferns suitable for gardens and landscapes Deciduous ferns die back completely in winter Evergreen ferns keep their fronds year-round, Here are some of the most popular hardy ferns

Ostrich fern – Large, vase-shaped deciduous fern.
Christmas fern – Evergreen with leathery fronds.
Japanese painted fern – Deciduous; foliage has silvery accents.

Autumn fern – Semi-evergreen in warmer zones.
Lady fern – Lacy, light green deciduous leaves.
Cinnamon fern – Deciduous with cinnamon-hued stems.

Maidenhair fern – Delicate deciduous fern.
Royal fern – Large, bold deciduous fern.

Fall care depends on whether the fern is deciduous or evergreen. But no matter the type, ferns benefit from cleaning up old fronds at the right time.

Why Prune Ferns in Fall?

Pruning ferns in autumn serves several important purposes:

Removes damaged and dying fronds from evergreen ferns.
Cleans up unsightly, faded foliage on deciduous types.

Prevents disease by removing fallen debris around the crown.
Encourages new growth in spring.
Improves the aesthetics and health of plants.

Targeted fall pruning makes room for an attractive flush of new fern fronds each spring It also beautifies the garden for winter

When to Prune Ferns in Fall

Timing is important when pruning ferns in autumn. Follow these guidelines:

Deciduous ferns – Prune after the foliage has died back fully, usually after the first hard frost. Pruning too early can damage next year’s growth buds.

Evergreen ferns – Prune older fronds in late fall or early winter before new fiddleheads emerge in spring.

Any time – Remove damaged fronds as needed in fall, cutting back to healthy growth.

The key is to prune ferns when plants are fully dormant. Avoid cutting too early or you may hinder next year’s frond development.

How to Prune Deciduous Ferns in Fall

Pruning deciduous ferns like ostrich and Japanese painted fern is straightforward:

Wait until the fronds completely die back and turn brown after frost. Leaving stubs over winter invites disease.

Cut back all of the dead fronds at once. Use clean pruners to snip them off at ground level or just above the crown.
Rake away and dispose of the foliage debris around the fern.
Add a layer of shredded leaves or mulch over the crown if desired.

That’s all there is to it! The pruned ferns will send up a fresh new flush of fronds in spring.

How to Prune Evergreen Ferns in Fall

For evergreen ferns like Christmas and autumn ferns, the process is slightly different:

In late fall, look over the fern and flag any damaged, dried out or discolored fronds. Make sure new growth isn’t emerging yet.
Use pruners to cut back the flagged fronds to a healthy growth point. Don’t leave partially damaged fronds.

Prune out congested interior growth if needed to improve air circulation and light.
Rake away debris and add mulch around the fern.

Evergreen ferns don’t need major pruning. Just tidy them up by removing problem foliage.

Clean-Up Pruning of Overgrown Ferns

Sometimes an overgrown fern needs rejuvenation. If the entire plant has become congested and tired looking, you can cut all the fronds down in fall:

For evergreen ferns, prune off all of the previous year’s growth. This is especially useful if the fronds suffered winter damage.
For deciduous ferns, cut all the growth back every 2-3 years if the plant is declining from overcrowding.

Be careful not to prune too often or severely. Clip back just to healthy growth points to encourage bushy new fronds.

Ongoing Fern Care After Fall Pruning

Proper care after pruning is key:

Water ferns if fall weather is dry so crowns don’t desiccate.
Add mulch over the crown for insulation if your zone sees freezing winter temps.
Apply organic slow-release fertilizer in early spring to feed emerging fronds.

Keep mulched and evenly moist, but not soaked.
Watch for slugs and snails that may chew new growth.

Continued care ensures your ferns recover quickly after fall pruning.

The Takeaway – Prune Ferns in Fall for Health

Pruning hardy ferns in autumn keeps them looking fresh and encourages vigorous new growth. Just be sure to time it right based on the fern type – wait until full dormancy for deciduous, or prune selectively when evergreen fronds are still active. Avoid overpruning ferns or cutting too early in fall. With the proper technique, fall pruning of ferns results in a beautiful fern display the following gardening season.

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How to Cut Back Ferns

When should you cut back outdoor ferns?

Cutting Back Your Outdoor Fern Outdoor evergreen ferns should be cut down every year. Using sharp pruners, cut the fern fronds down to the ground. Late winter or early spring is the best timing, before the new fronds start to emerge. I usually cut them down sometime in March. Make every effort not to damage any new fronds when pruning the plant.

Should you cut fern fronds?

Trimming the tips of fronds will lead to more die back from the cut site, and risks infection or disease. Although most ferns will bounce back well after pruning – and many plants will respond to even severe cutting with robust new growth – it is important to prune at the right time and place to get the best results. What will happen to cut fronds?

How do you prune a fern?

To prune ferns, use sharp pruning shears or scissors to cut fronds at the base. For a regular pruning, target dead or yellowing fronds. For a heavier pruning (cutting back ferns in spring and summer), focus on the sides rather than the top of the fern and make sure you don’t cut back too much of the plant. Elizabeth Perry is a writer and editor.

When should ferns be pruned?

You can prune them in early spring before the new growth begins, or even when the new growth comes in. If you want to create a shape, you can trim around the edges of the plant. When growing ferns indoors, just be sure to cut off dead or dried fronds when they appear. Check the pruning information for your specific plant.